Wake up early to do a little fishing, go visit a fantastic aquarium, relax on a rooftop deck and sip a mojito and then watch baby turtles crawl towards the sea by the light of the moon. All in one day.

Mustang Island State Park

Are you looking for that perfect vacation spot where everyone in your family can find something to enjoy? You found it! Bring your family to Mustang Island State Park for an unforgettable day, weekend, or even week-long camping trip. This barrier island state park is home to a multitude of wildlife, as well as an array of pristine coastlines, a veritable wonderland for adventure-prone people of all ages. While Dad and Mom fish and watch the migration of wild waterfowl, the kids can attend one of the many Junior Ranger Exploration events or scamper around the beach collecting shells. By the way, your friendly pup is welcome, as long as he or she remains leashed.

Mustang Island Beach Features

Beach-front Bonfires

On-Beach Camping

Fantastic Beach Combing

Turtles and Dolphins and Birds! Oh My!

Paddling: Get up close and personal with Mother Nature.

Beach-Front Bonfires take you back to that primal place everyone tries to find in the wild. Groups can build and gather around bonfires on the beach, taking advantage of the fact that firewood is sold at the nearby park store.

On-Beach Camping

There are two options available to campers interested in spending time in Mustang Island State Park: primitive (drive-up) campsites right on the sand, and water and electric campsites protected from the wind behind the dunes bordering the beach.

Primitive campsites are available along a 1.5 mile stretch of beach. Here you can bring tents, lawn chairs, towels, and other items to relax on the shore of the Gulf. Ground fires are permissible. Access to the beach bathhouse, which includes full restrooms, is nearby to the headquarters.

Tucked behind the dunes and only a short walk from the shore are pull up water and electric campsites. Available here is a 50 amp hookup, as well as a water hookup. There are grills and picnic tables available, as well as nearby restrooms. You may still enjoy a bonfire on the beach, though not at your campsite.

Paddling Trails

Enjoy miles of quiet paddling-trail excursions and get up really close and personal with all the wildlife teeming along the shores.

Beach Combing

It’s at its best on the surf pounded sands of this beach. Low competition makes for lots of luck finding seashells, fossils, or other treasures swept in by the tide.

Sea Turtles

Mustang Island is one of the few remaining breeding grounds for a special breed of sea turtle, known as Kemp’s Ridley. If you visit between the months of April to July, you may even get a firsthand look at the sea turtles laying their eggs on the shore, or the hatchlings making their first journey to the sea. Young Atlantic green sea turtles flit and play around the jetties, and you can see them hunting for food in the sun-dappled waters.

Events are held regularly to learn more about the different species of turtles and how Texas participates in their conservation.

Bird-watching

Birders rejoice! Over 400 different species of birds can be observed on Mustang Island, making this a paradise for those interested in bird-watching. No matter your experience level, you can attend one of the many birding events, where a number of binoculars and field guides will be made available for you.

Perhaps most exciting is the potential to see a rare Aplomado falcon, which are all but gone from the Texas wilds. However, 65 captive-bred falcons were released on Mustang Island in 2012 and 2013, meaning that you may see one of these rare, beautiful birds on your visit.